Join many others who will gather on Friday, Feb. 5 for the Fifth Annual John Gaedert Generosity Celebration. This entertaining evening raises funds to support Charlotte area nonprofit organizations. This year, a new award for Generosity As a Way of Life will be announced at the celebration. Fundraising takes place through sponsorships and ticket sales, culminating in a public celebration event on Feb. 5 at the Eaton Area Senior Center. This event was originally named for the late John Gaedert because of the selfless and significant spirit of generosity he practiced during his life, quietly promoting collaboration and cooperation in Charlotte and throughout Eaton County. “John Gaedert demonstrated to all of us that challenging times truly are opportunities,” said Charlotte business owner Christi Dutcher. “His fierce determination to encourage, educate and support entrepreneurs as they took a chance on their dreams should motivate all of us to patronize our local businesses and support our local nonprofits.” Generosity was John’s way of life, said Travis Silvas, editor of The County Journal. “We tend to think of generosity in terms of financial giving, and John certainly did his share of that,” Silvas said. “But John’s generosity knew no limits. He was generous with his time, with his talent, but most importantly, with his belief in others. He had the most subtle way of making everyone feel special, to feel important. It inspired those around him to reach further to accomplish their goals and dreams. “This celebration represents all of the great qualities John exhibited in his daily life,” Silvas added. Proceeds from the event will support the Charlotte Generosity Fund, which is part of the Eaton County Community Foundation. The fund provides grants selected from collaborative projects from any nonprofit organizations in the Charlotte area. The fund has been growing every year. The impact of some of these collaborative projects and programs will be part of the celebration on Feb. 5. Everyone is invited for TUNES DJs’ music, dancing, and a special generosity award celebration, as well as appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets are on sale now at the Eaton Area Senior Center, The County Journal, and Fulton Lumber. This is a great opportunity to find ways to be generous. Purchase tickets for yourself and someone else to attend. If you can’t be there, consider paying it forward with tickets for someone else. In commenting on the event, Joe E. Pray noted, “An event to benefit the entire community could not be more appropriately named than the John Gaedert Annual Generosity Celebration. During his lifetime, John’s supportive handprint was on every non-profit in the Charlotte area, as well as the business community throughout the region.” Throughout his life, John received honors and awards from every corner beginning with the Jaycees Young Man of the Year, Chamber Awards including the Community Cornerstone, Excellence, and ‘E’ Awards. But, those awards were not the motivation for John. He believed in celebrating Charlotte, honoring the past but most importantly working toward the potential in our future. So many people throughout our area practice this “give back” approach to life. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate generosity and make a measurable impact.
